South Side advances in playoffs
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Goalkeeper Paul Casazza is coming up big for the Cyclones.
Jeff Wilson/Herald
Unlike the second- and third-seeded teams in the Nassau Class A girls’ soccer playoffs, South Side avoided a major upset and is two wins away from a 13th consecutive county championship.
The No. 1-ranked Lady Cyclones (12-0-2) made easy work of Lynbrook in last Friday’s opening round, winning 6-0, as well as Wantagh in Monday’s quarterfinal, building a five-goal halftime lead en route to a 7-1 victory. Senior Crystal Dunn and junior Jackie Cifarelli each scored twice against Wantagh and once against Lynbrook. Junior Dana Rosney added a pair of goals on Monday, while senior Jackie Bellando picked up a goal and two assists last Friday.
“We’ve passed the ball very well and finished,” coach Judi Croutier said. “What’s good is we’re keeping the pressure on after scoring first.”
With second-seeded New Hyde Park falling in the first round to No. 15 Roslyn, and No. 14 Hewlett’s equally stunning upset of third-seeded Garden City, the semifinals include only two of the top four seeds. South Side faces fourth-seeded Plainedge on Friday at 3:30 p.m. and No. 6 Division takes on No. 7 Jericho at 5:30 p.m. at Denton Avenue Field in New Hyde Park.
“Upsets happen,” Croutier said. “We tell the girls every year it’s why we play the games.”
South Side’s defense in front of senior goalkeeper Mersina Onesto is being led by seniors Jackie Nicholas, Emma Kriss and Emily Slome and sophomore Caitlin Wallace.
Cyclones get by Manhasset in first round
South Side has suffered its share of Nassau Class A first-round playoff disappointment in recent years, including a loss to North Shore in 2008, but the Cyclones (6-3-7) worked their way past pesky Manhasset last Friday night at Skelos Sports Complex, 1-0, and have their eyes on a trip to Mitchel Athletic Complex on Sunday for a semifinal game against either Roslyn or Hewlett. First they must get by New Hyde Park in the quarterfinals.
“We’ve done a nice job of keeping focused on the next game,” coach Fred Paul said. “New Hyde Park has more size and strength than Manhasset, but at the end of the day if we do what we need to do we’ll be okay.”
Senior goalkeeper Paul Casazza (12 saves) made a picture-perfect goal by junior Mike Marano at the 17-minute mark hold up against Manhasset. Marano beat a defender to a through ball from freshman Mark Romanowski and deposited it in the cage. For Casazza, it was his eighth shutout of the season. “Casazza had a big game,” Paul said. “I expected him to be busy because Manhasset has a lot of talent.”
According to the coach, the defense in front of Casazza was led by junior Jeff Cohen and senior Greg Cove. The latter was in the hip pocket of Indians leading scorer Nico Capetola (14 goals) all night.
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